Athletics (British Sports Library)

DISCUS THROWING 161 turn (Sketch 4) the left foot is shifted back just before the turning movement begins to L2. The body is bent and the arm brought down to shoulder level as he begins to turn (Sketch 5). During the turn upon the left foot the discus hand comes down to the level of the knees (Sketch 6). In Sketch 7 the athlete has arrived facing the left side of the circle and has placed the right foot down at R2, and the :;trms have again risen shoulder high. Here he must be prepared to hold a longer spin on the ball of the right foot than he has just held upon the left foot, and, for this purpose, must poise his body slightly forward, allowing the_ throwing arm to swing well up above and behind the shoulder (Sketch 8), otherwise he will never get his left foot around to L3. If he should shorten his spin, so that the left foot comes down on the centre line, he will block the full extent of the final body twist and full arm delivery (Sketch ll). Just as the foot is about to be placed forcibly upon the ground at L3, with toes turned slightly inwards, the throwing arm begins to swing round and down. It is level with the shoulders and the throw has commenced when the foot is grounded and the left arm also is contributing to the swing (Sketch 9). The discus hand drops still lower and the knees are bent, while the left hand acts as a balancer (Sketch 10). It should be noted that the throwing arm does not 11